DATE:
September 27, 2022
10
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE SINGLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT FOR CONTRACT WITH YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, AUTHORIZE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT(S) FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES REUNIFYING, AND AUTHORIZE APPLICATION FOR FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On June 8, 2021 (3), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) took critical action in advancing support to vulnerable San Diego County residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by approving a framework for the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. As part of this framework, under the Child Care Subsidies component, funding was allocated for the Child Care Voucher Program for Targeted Populations. Recently, on August 30, 2022 (20), the Board revisited the ARPA Framework, reallocating some balances projected to be remaining after Fiscal Year 2024-25. This action resulted in a total of $1.5 million in ARPA funds remaining for the Child Care Voucher Program for Targeted Populations. Nationally, child welfare systems serve a disproportionate number of families living below the poverty line. Families with low socioeconomic status are over 40 times more likely to enter the child welfare system than median-income families. Research also indicates that families with open child welfare cases (mostly neglect-related) who receive home-based services with concrete supports including child care, are less likely to experience a child maltreatment report compared to families who receive the program without any concrete supports.
To remove barriers to the placement of children in foster care with home-based caregivers, California Senate Bill 89 was signed into law in 2017 and allows counties to participate in the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program). The Bridge Program provides trauma-informed, quality child ca...
Click here for full text